NEWPORT BEACH, California -- Auburn's secondary finds itself in a familiar position on the eve of the BCS National Championship Game.

Under fire.

Florida State's passing attack, led by Heisman Trophy winner Jameis Winston and a deep, talented stable of wide receivers, has drawn a lot of praise this week in California, touted as a sure thing against an Auburn secondary that struggled down the stretch.

"Playing in the SEC, we see all types of receivers and Florida State, they've got some pretty good receivers," Auburn cornerback Chris Davis said. "We've got pretty good defensive backs, too. Like we say, our defense sometimes gets overlooked, but we're ready for the task."

Auburn's lack of depth in the secondary has hurt.

Beset by injuries to Josh Holsey, Jonathan Jones, Davis and others this season, most of the Tigers' secondary has averaged 90 plays per game, a tough proposition for any position, but particularly in man coverage against teams throwing it more than 40 times.

"90 snaps a game is very hard, especially against the no‑huddle teams," safety Jermaine Whitehead, the team leader in snaps per game, said. Things start to happen, you try to help other people, there's a lot that can go on being out there so long."

In the Tigers' memorable finishing stretch, Auburn's secondary gave up 415 yards to Georgia's Aaron Murray, 277 to Alabama's AJ McCarron and 303 to Missouri's James Franklin.

Plagued by coverage busts, the Tigers also gave up big games to Alabama's Amari Cooper and Missouri's Dorial Green-Beckham, prompting all the questions about whether or not they can handle Florida State's trio of stars on the outside.

Rashad Greene (67 catches), Kenny Shaw (52) and Kelvin Benjamin (50 catches) have each racked up more than 900 yards this season, and tight end Nick O'Leary adds 33 catches for 557 yards, presenting another problem for a team that struggled at times against Georgia's Arthur Lynch and Alabama's O.J. Howard.

Throw in Winston, the nation's leader in pass efficiency, and the Seminoles present a major problem for any defense.

Auburn's secondary, on the other hand, has been a boom or bust proposition at times, a unit devastated by injuries that has given up big yardage totals, but also found a way to come up with some of the season's biggest plays.

"When they make the kind of plays that they made at critical times you gotta trust them," Johnson said. "When they make the plays that give up cheap plays you get frustrated. I think we're going to play better in this game, frankly."

Davis is the unit's clear leader, a good cover corner who has locked down the boundary for the most part this season.

And his confidence spreads to the rest of the unit.

Despite the yardage totals allowed, Auburn's defensive backs feel confident going into the BCS National Championship against Florida State. A year after the Tigers infamously picked off just two passes, Auburn has 13 interceptions, along with key plays in every big win that brought the Tigers to this point.

"I feel like our secondary has been overlooked like from when the season just began," hybrid Robenson Therezie said. "With 11‑plus interceptions, I feel like we gained a lot of confidence and a lot of experience facing quarterbacks like Johnny Manziel and A.J. McCarron and just like Jameis Winston, who we're about to face right now."